Thin brick is real brick, made of clay and fired in kilns, but it is usually 1/2 to 1 inch thick, compared to about 4 inches for standard brick. Thin brick can be used indoors or outdoors. It is easier to install because it is lighter and does not require a support ledge. It can be installed on some interior walls with an adhesive, like tile mastic. Exterior installation requires mortar, just like full bricks.
Clean Masonry
Masonry walls require little preparation, whether inside or out. Thin bricks will adhere with mortar to poured concrete, concrete block, stone or other masonry surface. Thin brick bonds with the wall masonry and becomes part of the wall. Preparation requires cleaning the wall, removing any nails or other impediments, and patching any holes or cracks.
Moisture Barrier
Exterior walls require preparation for thin bricks. The first step is a moisture barrier. Some type of waterproofing membrane must be fastened to a wood-sheathed wall, typically with staples and a construction stapler. The waterproofing must cover the entire surface. Metal flashing must be installed around windows, doors and any edges to seal them.
Metal Lath
The next step for exterior walls is putting on metal lath, nailed through the sheathing to studs in the walls. Seams should be overlapped so the entire wall is covered completely. A "weep screed" of metal flashing with holes in it should be fastened to the bottom of the lath, so any water that gets behind the thin brick will drain out and not create problems.
Mortar "Scratch" Coat
Final preparation for an exterior wall is a "scratch" coat of mortar, applied with a trowel over the lath about 1/8-inch thick. It should be put on as evenly as possible and completely cover the lath. As it begins to set, scratch the surface horizontally with a notched trowel, a stiff bristle broom or a leaf rake to provide a rough surface for thin brick mortar to penetrate.
Interior Walls
Interior walls with drywall should be covered with thin plywood or cement fiber backer board before thin bricks are installed. Either covering can be nailed to studs through the drywall. Extremely smooth material should be rough sanded to create texture for adhesive to bond to. Once the wall is completely covered with a suitable base, thin bricks can be applied with tile mastic.
Related posts
Inserting nail into a brick wall requires the correct procedure and tools.There are many reasons why you may want to insert a nail into a brick wall. The nail can be used to hang a picture or to s...
Soundproof a brick wall with a combination of mass and acoustic caulk.Panels of gypsum wallboard can provide the necessary mass to block sound waves from a brick wall. By adding acoustical caulk b...
A lot of people have that one (or more) unsightly brick wall they just don't know what to do with. Maybe it's an interior wall, the one behind a fireplace, or a brick wall separating your house fr...
Fiberglass reinforced panels (FRP) are a type of plastic paneling reinforced with fiberglass for added strength and durability. They are often installed on walls in moisture-prone or hard-to-clean...
Wall sheathing is an exterior wall covering that adds structural strength and serves as a vapor barrier. It is positioned between the siding or veneer and the framing of a wall. Sheathing can be m...
